A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

trips or attempts to trip an opponent

jumps at an opponent

charges an opponent

strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offenses:

tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball

holds an opponent

spits at an opponent

handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

A direct free kick is taken from where the offense occurred. (see free kicks above)

Penalty Kick

There are no penalty kicks allowed. – U8, U10

Penalty Kicks are awarded if an offense that would result in a direct free kick is committed by a defender inside their own penalty area – U13, U16

Indirect Free Kick

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following offenses:

takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession

Touches the ball again with his hands after he has released it into play if another player has not touched it. Note that the goalkeeper must have control of the ball before releasing it for this law to take effect. I.e. rebounds from saves are not counted.

Touches the ball with his hands after it has been kicked to him by a teammate or directly from a throw in taken by his teammate.

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee :

plays in a dangerous manner

This includes high kicks, kicking the ball when on the ground, and kicking at a ball next to someone on the ground.

Slide tackles also are considered dangerous play – U8, U10, U12

impedes the progress of an opponent

prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

commits any other offense, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.

The indirect free kick is taken from where the offense occurred.

Disciplinary Sanctions/Sending-Off Offenses

A player is sent off if he commits any of the following offenses:

is guilty of serious foul play

is guilty of violent conduct

spits at an opponent or any other person

denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

For games being officiated by a certified referee, FIFA law 12 on Cautions (yellow cards) and Sending Off (red cards) will be enforced. – U10, U13, U16

· Any player receiving a Yellow card may be immediately substituted at the coach's discretion, but may return at the next substitution

· Any player receiving a Red card must immediately leave the field and may not return

(must be reported to referee director and league director)

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The player may not be replaced

· All Cautions and ejections must be reported to the referee director and league director

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

Players are entitled to an interval at half-time.

The half-time interval about 5 minutes.

Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval.

The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the referee.